Daijiworld Media Network – Lahore

Lahore, Feb 27: Afghanistan and Australia are gearing up for a crucial showdown in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with a semi-final spot on the line. The highly anticipated Group B encounter at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday is being dubbed a virtual quarter-final, as the losing team faces likely elimination depending on the outcome of the England vs. South Africa match in Karachi.

Afghanistan’s remarkable rise in international cricket has been on full display, with their stunning victory over England earlier this week putting them on the brink of a historic semi-final qualification in their debut Champions Trophy campaign. Their confidence will be further boosted by their first-ever win over Australia in the T20 World Cup last year, a result that played a key role in knocking out the five-time world champions.

Ibrahim Zadran, fresh off his record-breaking 177-run knock against England, will once again lead Afghanistan’s batting lineup, supported by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hashmatullah Shahidi. Meanwhile, the world-class spin attack, spearheaded by Rashid Khan, will look to exploit the Lahore conditions and trouble Australia’s batting order.

For Australia, the tournament presents a chance for redemption following inconsistent performances in ICC events. While they clinched the ODI World Cup last year, their T20 World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, and they have struggled to make a mark in this edition of the Champions Trophy.

Australia’s campaign has been impacted by the absence of their premier fast-bowling trio – Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc – due to injuries and workload management. Their young pacers Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, and Nathan Ellis will have to rise to the occasion, while Adam Zampa’s leg-spin could prove crucial in Lahore’s conditions.

With the bat, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, and Glenn Maxwell form a formidable lineup. Maxwell, in particular, has a history of dismantling Afghanistan’s bowling attack, with his unforgettable double-century in the 2023 ODI World Cup rescuing Australia from the brink of defeat.

Weather conditions in Lahore could add further intrigue to the qualification scenario, as a washout would see Australia qualify due to their superior net run rate. Afghanistan, in that case, would have to rely on a massive England victory over South Africa to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

If the match proceeds as scheduled, both teams have a clear objective—win and secure a place in the semi-finals. A loss for Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Afghanistan would leave them on the brink of elimination, while an Australian defeat would virtually end their campaign, barring an improbable turnaround in net run rate.

Match Details
• Date: February 28, Friday
• Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• Time: 2:30 PM IST (Toss at 2 PM)
• Broadcast: Live on Star Sports Network
• Streaming: JioHotstar

Squads

Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (w), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Tanveer Sangha.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Ikram Alikhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran.